Self-elevating sprinkler head and system



y 6, 1953 w. B. G LYNN 2,639,941

SELF-ELEVATING SPRINKLER HEAD AND SYSTEM Filed Oct. 2. 1950 INVENTOR. WLLIAM BG'LYMM.

maxim Patented May 26, 1953 SELF-ELEVATING SPRINKLER HEAD AND SYSTEMWilliam B. Glynn, Menlo Park, Calif. Application October 2, 1950, SerialNo. 187,928

4 Claims.

My present invention relates to lawn sprinkler systems and moreparticularly to in improved sprinkler head for multiple outlet systemsof the type in which spray producing nozzles assume an elevated positionwith respect to the surrounding lawn when in operation.

The main object of my invention is to provide an improved lawn sprinklerhead and system of the type in which water is supplied to a plurality ofspaced sprinkler heads having nozzles that are adapted to assume anelevated position when in operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sprinkler head of theelevating type with novel means that will operate to utilize the waterpressure as a nozzle elevating means without detrimentally interferingwith the spray producing characteristics of the sprinkler head.

Another object of the inventionis to provide a sprinkler system of thetype having a plurailty of sprinkler heads with interchangeable flowcontrolling means which, when properly installed, will provide asubstantially uniform elevating force and spray discharge from each ofthe several sprinkler heads of the system.

A further object of the invention is to provide a lawn sprinkler headthat is simple and economical of construction, easy to install andadjust and which has no complicated parts which will deteriorate or getout of order.

' One important feature of the present invention is the fact that thesprinkler head hereinafter described is composed of two shells. whichare in threaded engagement with each other. The outer shell is threadeddirectly onto the end of the water riser pipe. The inner shell and allthe other parts of the device may be removed for repair merely byunscrewing the inner shell from the outer shell and withdrawing thesame. Thus it is unnecessary to disturb the lawn or other vegetation inwhich the sprinkler head is installed when repair or adjustment of thedevice is required, whereas in sprinkler heads previously employedextensive excavation of the premises has been necessitated wheneverrepairs are made.

Another feature of the instant invention'is the fact that the innershell has a'smooth cylindrical bore of extended length and a pistonthrough which the water passes is fitted Within said bore in such mannerthat the piston is elevated to spray position by sliding within the boreof the inner shell. The length of stroke of the piston is fixed so thatthe piston is at all times in contact with the bore of the inner shell.Thus the entry of dirt or other material inside the ,mechanism isprevented;

- erative position,

Still a further feature of the invention resides in the construction ofthe piston which has been mentioned. Said piston has a smooth, hollow,internal cylindrical bore and may be separated into two parts. Withinthe hollow portion is a solid plug having on its external cylindricalsurface at least two helical threads which fit snugly against theinternal cylindrical bore of the piston. Thus the plug when once locatedinside the hollow piston remains in adjusted position spaced apredetermined distance from top and bottom of the piston. Further, byreason of the tight fit of the threads of the plug against the smoothinternal bore of the piston, the water which passes through the pistonis compelled to follow the spiral passageways defined by the threads onthe plug, which passageways produce a definite spray pattern for thesprinkler head. It should also be pointed out that each thread on theplug makes at least one complete turn, which imparts a spinning motionto the stream of water and insures that the water emitted falls in awide and complete circle. By variation of the depth and width and numberof grooves on the plug the spray characteristics may be controlled sothat either a heavy rain type spray or a light fog may be produced byproper selection of plugs.

It will further become apparent that the sprinkler head hereinafterdescribed is a self-cleaning and does not require a screen or strainer.This feature is of importance when the water used may contain foreignsubstances, such as, for example, when the drainage from a swimming poolis employed.

Volume controls are not'necessary in carrying out the teaching of thepresent invention for such control may be accomplished by changing theplugs and selection of those plugs having the characteristics producingthe volume and type of spray desired.

- With these and other objects in View as will appear hereinafter, myinvention consists of certain novel features of construction,combination and arrangement of parts and portions as will be hereinafterdescribed in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims.

Reference is now made to the accompanying drawing wherein there is shownby way of illustration and not by limitation a preferred embodiment ofthe invention and in which Figure l is a diagrammatic view showing asystem of the type such as is contemplated by the invention,' 7

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of my improved sprinkler head withthe parts in an inop- Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, showingthe parts in their operative position,

Figures 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 comprise an exploded view showing the movableparts of my improved sprinkler head,

Fig. 9 is an end view of plug used in the sprinkler head,

Fig. 10 is aside elevation thereof. 7

Figure 11- shows a further adaptation of the invention.

In Figure l of the drawings there is shown a simple sprinkler systemhaving. a. water supply pipe Ill of the type such as is buried belowthesurface of a lawn. This water supply pipe is provided with a valve Hfor controlling the flow of Water to the system. Along the main watersupply pipe Ill there are a number of nipples l2 that form verticallyextending connections for individual sprinkler heads 13. In thisarrangement, four of the sprinkler heads l3 are shown as arranged. in astraight line along the water supply pipe l0, but it will be understoodthat in any complete system the water supply pipe Ill may have laterallyextendingbranches which fan out over a wide area and along these lateralconnections there may be one or more additional sprinkler heads. 13. Insuch a system, as is well understood in the art, the number of sprinkleroutlets in any one system will be limited by the available water supplyand where the water pressure is low the number of sprinkler heads willbe also correspondingly limited. Under these conditions the volume ofwater flowing through the individual sprinkler headswill also limit thenumber which may be used upon any particular watersupply main. If thesprinkler heads are each. designed to distribute a uniform quantity ofwater at a definite pressure it will be readily seen that the sprinklerheads at the more distant points of thesource of supply willbe subjectedto a lowered Water pressure and asa consequence unless some means isprovided to equalize the flow of water through the sprinkler heads andthereby also maintain a substantially uniform pressure along the watersupply pipe, the sprinklers at the more distant points will be incapableof providing a spray comparable with the spray outlets positioned moreclosely with respect to theval've II. This conditionalso presents aproblem which is more serious when the sprinkler heads are of. the selfelevating type as the operation of sucha sprinkler head not onlyrequires sufllcient water to produce a satisfactory spray but there mustalso be present a pressure of water at the sprinkler head which will besufiicient to elevate the spray nozzle. These diiilcultie'sqare overcomein accordance with my invention an d as will be now desicribedinmoredetail, by the provision of a novel flow, controlling means which may.beinterchangeably employed with a plurality of identical sprinkler headoutlets to maintain a substantially. uniform operating pressure alongthe water main that will insure elevation o'f the nozzles and at the sametime pass sufficient water to produce uniform patterns oispray at eachof the sprinkler heads,

As shown in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawing the sprinkler head B of myinvention in its preferred form consists of a cup-like housing. [4 thatis open atfitsbo'ttom and top and threaded for mounting upon theextending end of a length of pipe such as one of the nipples l2 referredto above. This housing I4 has an outwardly extending flange l5.'withnotches ior a spanner wrench by which it may be conveniently turned uponthe nipple I2. At its upper end the housing I4 is threaded internally toreceive a cylinder forming member [6 that has a reduced central openingI! at its inner end. At its outer end this cylinder forming member 16 isalso provided with oppositely disposed notches l8 for the accommodationof a spanner wrench so that it can be installed and" removed in itsentirety without disconnecting the housing M from the nipple l2.Operatively mounted within the cylinder forming member Hi there is ahollow piston forming member having an upper part l9 with a sprayorifice 20 and a lower part 2| that has a threaded central opening intowhich a downwardly extending tubular piston 22 is threaded. The tubularpiston rod 22 has an outwardly extending flange or annular shoulder 23that serves to limit its. upward movement, as shown in Figure 3, whenthe sprinkler head is in operation. The members l9 and 2! of the hollowpistonmember are threaded together as a unit and disposed within thesepiston. forming members there is a flow controlling means in the form ofa spiral plug 24. In' this particular arrangement the spiral plug 25 isshown as having substantially two complete turns of a spiral. When wateris admitted to this particular sprinkler head the spiral plug 24 willserve to create a back pressure that will insure a full elevation of thenozzle and at the same time establish a swirl in the water Which willproduce a satisfactory spray at a given water pressure.

As illustrated, in Figures 4 to 3 inclusive of the drawing, the movableparts of my improved sprinkler head can be conveniently disassembled forinterchange of the spiral plug 24-with other spiral plugs, such as willbe hereinafter described, and where replacement or repair of any of theparts is required these may be carried out by simply turning thecylinder formin member [5 out of the housing M, after which the pistonforming members I 9, and, 2| may be separated to permit the removal ofthe spiral plug 24 and the insertion of a spiral plug having other waterflow andspray producing characteristics. Likewise, the tubularpistonforming member 22 may be detached from the part! Iof the piston bythe application of a wrench applied to flattened faces 25 providedthereby.

It will be understood that the depth and width of thread, and number ofthreads of plug 24. may be varied to vary the water clearances andresistance to water flow of plug 24. With these differ.- ent forms ofspiral plugs and with any suitable number 'all diifering from each otherin one manner or another, it will be possiblein any complete sprinklersystem to provide substantially uniform spray patterns at all ofthesprinkler heads and at the same time maintain apressure condition inthe system that will insure a full elevation of each of the sprinklerhead nozzles. In practice I have found that, when-the spiral plugs areformed of a non-metallic material such sis-glazed,

porcelain or a plastic there is no possibility oi" corrosion orwater-pitting such as might interfere withoperation of thesprinklerhead.

In the installed sprinkler-systems there is oftenrequired a sprinklerhead which will. produceahalf circle spray pattern. These are generally.

installed at the edge of a lawn and-project. a

conventional form which can be mounted in the spray orifice 20 and theresecured by a nut 29. When my improved sprinkler head is employed in thismanner the spiral plug will be omitted from the plug accommodatingchamber and the restricted outlet of the nozzle 28, together with itsconfiguration will maintain the back pressure required to insure a fullelevation of the nozzle when in operation.

While I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose theinvention so that the same can be readily understood, described andillustrated specific devices and arrangements, I desire to have itunderstood that this invention is not limited to the specific meansdisclosed and all such changes as come within the scope of the appendedclaims are to be considered as a part of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is:

1. In a lawn sprinkler head, the combination of a cup-like housingadapted to be threaded at its bottom to the end of a water supply pipe,a cylinder forming member having an elongated, cylindrical bore threadedinto said housing and having an open end flush with the top of saidhousing, a hollow cylindrical piston having an elongated, cylindricalexterior having a spray orifice at its upper end, the respectivediameters of said cylinder forming member and said piston allowing for asliding movement of said piston with a close fit excluding ingress offoreign matter, a tubular extension carried by said piston andprojecting downwardly into said water supply pipe, means at the end ofsaid tubular extension for limiting upward movement of said piston withrespect to said cylinder forming member, and a solid, cylindrical inserthaving a plurality of helical threads on its cylindrical surf-ace of alesser diameter than the diameter of said cylintier-forming memberslidable within said hollow piston having a pitch that will insure afull elevation of said piston with respect to said housing at theprevailing water pressure.

2. In a lawn sprinkler head, the combination of an open top housingadapted to be threaded to the end of a water supply pipe, a cylinderforming member threaded into said housing having an open end flush withthe open top of said housing, a hollow piston member having an orificeat its outer end, a tubular extension forming a downwardly extendingpiston rod that projects into said water supply pipe, means at the lowerend of said tubular extension for limiting the upward movement thereofwith respect to said cylinder forming member, and an interchangeablesolid, cylindrical insert having a plurality of hellcal threads on itscylindrical surface of a lesser diameter than the diameter of saidcylinderforming member slidable within said piston member having a pitchthat will insure a full elecylinder-forming member, piston member andtubular extension being such that }said piston .inember is in constantengagement with the top of said cylinder-forming member to prevententrance of foreign matter into said cylinder-forming member.

3. A self-elevating sprinkler head comprising a first cup member havinga threaded connection at its lower end for attachment to a water 5 pipeand an enlarged opening at the top, a secand cup member arranged to fitin threaded enggagement within said first cup member with the tops ofsaid first and second cup members substantially even, said second cupmember having a restricted aperture at its lower end and a smoothcylindrical bore extending downwardly from its upper end, a hollowpiston slidable within the bore of said second cup member, said pistonbeing divided into two separable parts and having a jet aperture at itstop and a threaded connection at its bottom and a cylindrical boretherebetween, a tubular member depending from i said piston and havingan enlarged external rim at its lower end larger than said restrictedaperture at the lower end of said second cup member Number and extendingbelow said second cup member, the lengths of said tubular member, pistonand said second cup member being such that said piston is at all timesat least partially in engagement with said bore in said second cupmember, and a solid plug vertically moveable Within said hollow piston,said plug having at least two helical kler head on each of said riserpipes, each said sprinkler head having the structure defined in claim 3,the depth, width and number of threads of the plugs in the various headsbeing adjusted to provide substantially uniform spray through- WILLIAMB. GLYNN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NameDate 1,192,743 Brooks July 25, 1916 1,159,902 Parker Mar. 19, 19182,434,767 Hertel Jan. 20, 1948 2,514,346

Snoddy July 4, 1950

